KB Racing LLC: Tire smoke ends eliminations for Will in round two
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE KB RACING LLC NHRA POWERADE DRAG RACING SERIES KB RACING LLC-owned, KALITTA MOTORSPORTS-managed TOP FUEL DRAGSTER HILLARY WILL (www.hillarywillrace.com) -- DRIVER JIM OBERHOFER (Jim O.) - CREW CHIEF MEDIA CONTACT: Mickey Schultz PHONE: 425-557-8899 E-MAIL: mschultz@bellsouth.net 19TH ANNUAL NHRA SCHUCK'S AUTO SUPPLY NATIONALS PACIFIC RACEWAYS - KENT, WASH. (SEATTLE) JULY 21-23, 2006 Qualified: # 6 (4.642 seconds at 314.83 mph) Eliminations: Round 1: Will (4.903/279.67) def. Doug Herbert (5.365/212.13) Round 2: Will (4.920/272.56) lost to Dave Grubnic (4.742/307.23) Tire smoke ends eliminations for Will in round two Team has positive attitude going to Sonoma KENT, Wash. (July 23, 2006) - Tire smoke ended what otherwise was a promising weekend for Hillary Will in the second round at this weekend's 19th annual NHRA Schuck's Auto Supply Nationals at Pacific Raceways, in Kent, Wash., near Seattle. In the opening round it was the rookie Will, against the veteran, Doug Herbert. Herbert gained a slight advantaged at the light but Will had erased the difference by half track. At the finish line it was Will in her KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel Dragster who crossed first in 4.903 seconds. Herbert's engine gave way about a thousand feet and he recorded a pass of 5.365 seconds. In the second round against her Kalitta Motorsports teammate David Grubnic, a wisp of smoke from the big Goodyears ended Will's day. Grubnic crossed first in 4.742 seconds followed by Will in 4.920 seconds. "It's the first time all year long that we've made it past the first round two races in a row," said Jim Oberhofer, Will's crew chief. "I think this team is gelling and getting into a routine and we are now becoming very consistent, especially in the heat. We're really starting to figure out these hot, tricky racetracks. Hillary did a good job of driving this weekend and I think sooner or later this car is going to be in the winner's circle - hopefully sooner than later." Will added, "I'm pleased with the way this weekend went. We qualified No. 6 and advanced to the second round in eliminations. This gives this team a positive attitude going into the next race in Sonoma. Will remains No. 10 in the NHRA POWERade Top Fuel point standings with 605 points and is one of the leading candidates for the Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award (Rookie of the Year). Will and her KB Racing LLC-owned, Kalitta Motorsports-managed team now head for the Napa valley wine country when the third and final race of the Western Swing - three back-to-back-to-back races in Denver, Seattle, and Sonoma - hit the Infineon Raceway quarter-mile track in Sonoma, Calif., for the 19th annual NHRA FRAM Autolite Nationals, next weekend (July 28-30). ESPN2 will air same-day television coverage of eliminations for the 19th annual NHRA Schuck's Auto Supply Nationals from 8 until 11 p.m. (Sunday, July 23). The elimination show repeats early Monday morning (July 24) from 2:30-4:30 a.m. Television times are Eastern Time (ET) and subject to change at anytime. Check local listings. KB Racing LLC is owned by Las Vegas businessmen Ken Black and Kenny Black. KB Racing LLC fields the Kalitta Motorsports-managed Top Fuel dragster driven by rookie driver Hillary Will. Autolite Spark Plugs, Calico Coatings, Findlay Automotive, Mac Tools, Red Line Oil, Summit Racing Equipment and the Technicoat Companies are associate marketing partners for 2006. In addition to Hillary Will's Top Fuel Dragster, KB Racing LLC also fields two Summit Racing Equipment Pro Stock Pontiac GTOs, driven by Greg Anderson and Jason Line on the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Anderson has won three consecutive POWERade Pro Stock Championships (2003-2005). Line finished third in the 2005 POWERade point standings and was honored with the 2004 Automobile Club of Southern California Road to the Future award, presented to the most outstanding rookie in a professional category. Kalitta Motorsports (www.kalittaracing.com), owned by the legendary drag racer and successful businessman Connie Kalitta, will field, in addition to Will's dragster, three additional nitro fuel cars - two Top Fuel dragsters and a Funny Car - in 2006 in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series. Doug Kalitta will drive the Mac Tools Top Fuel Dragster, David Grubnic will handle the driving duties on the StriVectin-SD Top Fuel Dragster and Scott Kalitta moves from Top Fuel to the Kalitta Air Funny Car for 2006. ####